Printing device



June 1,5, 1943. l L, T, ASH 2,321,968

PRINTING DEVICE Filed NQV. 14, 1940 Patented June 15, 1943 1.

'AUNITED STATESl PATENT oFFIcE l, The invention relates to the art of printing/ g and has more particular reference to a printing attachment for printing on a paper roll such as wrapping paper as the same is withdrawn from the roll. 5

A primary object of the invention is to pro- 353 vide an improved attachment for use in connection with devices for holding a roll of wrapping paper or the like and which will operate as the paper is withdrawn to print advertising matl ter on the outside surface thereof, or any other indicia such as notices or the name and address of the owner of the store.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printing attachment of the character described including a printing cylinder which will oper-.;

. ate in an improved manner to accomplishthe objects sought, the said printing cylinder, fory example, having intermittent rotation in order to properly space the printed impressions on the paper. Another object is to provide a printing device including a printing cylinder having alternate rotation with an OIT-impression memberand wherein friction means are provided to prevent slippage of either the printing cylinder or the off- ,J impression member with respect to the paper. Another object is to provide a printing attach- ,ment for wrapping paper rolls which will be strong and durable in construction, wherein provision will be made so that the same can bef.; readily applied to or removed from the paper roll support, and which in operative position will merely rest on the paper, the necessaryv pressure lfor printing being applied by the weight of the printing couple together with the weight of the;

Y frame structure journalling the same.

With these and various other objects in view,

the invention may consist of certain novel features otconstruction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed. outfinthe specification, drawing and claims appended hereto.

In the drawing which illustrates an embodif mentv of the device and wherein like reference t, printing couple comprising the printing attachnient oi' invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantial- 55 ly along line 3-3 of Figure 2, illustrating .the position of the parts at the beginning of a printing cycle; and

Figure 4 is a sectional viewsimilar to Figure 3 but showing the position of the printing cylinder and associated parts at the beginning of an oiT-impression cycle.

Referring to the drawing, particularly Figures v l and 2, the printing attachment of the invention may be applied to a support such as l0 fory journalling a roll of wrapping paper or the like Il on the surface of which it is desired to print advertising matter, notices or other indicia. Said support may consist of side uprights I2 having a base I3 which are suitably connected at their upper end by a transverse top member I4. The roll of wrapping paper-is positioned between the uprights and suitably supported by means of trunnions l5 so that when the wrapping paper is withdrawn the roll II will revolve. After a suitable length has been unwound the same is severed from the roll by means of the transverse knife edge I6. g g

'I'he attachment of the invention is secured to the transverse top member I4 by means of the plate Il and angle members I8. The angle members I8 position to the rear of the top member I4 a bracket 20 of metal or the like, which is preferably located centrally of the wrapping paper roll Il, sinceA it is generally desired to apply the advertising matter centrally of the width of the wrapping paper. Said bracket 2! includes a substantially flat backing member 2l, Figures 3 and 4, having side flanges providing guiding recesses 22 formed along the respective. sides thereof. A frame, designated in its entiretylby 23. is mounted by the bracket 20 for free movement in a substantially vertical direction toward and from the periphery of the wrapping paper roll Il. Said frame 23 includes a base member 24, substantially illat throughout its extent, and having a width so that the same will be retained by the guiding recesses 22 of bracket 20. Spaced side members 25 and 26 are suitably secured to the base member 24, the side members in-turn journalling, in a manner to be presently described, the printing couple of the invention in- Y cluding'a printing cylinder, an inking cylinder and an oir-impression member. Said side members and the lower portion of base 24 form the 'three sides of a housing for enclosing the printing couple, the remaining side of said housing being provided by a removable member 2l? having an arcuate top 28. The 'member 2l may be dropped into place over the printing couple and it will be observed by reference to Figure 2 that members 25 and 26 support the same at its respective ends. Member 21 is removable since access to the printing couple is desirable for purposes of repair or replacement. However, the member may be releasably secured in position by screws such as 29.

The printing member of the present invention comprises a rotatable printing cylinder 30 carrying type 3! located around the periphery thereof and between the rings 32 positioned at the respective ends of the type cylinder. type provide traction means whereby the cylinder is rotated when the said type and rings are in contact withthe wrapping paper roll H and the paper is withdrawn from said roll. Rotation of the type cylinder 30 when in contact with the roll Il will produce an impression on said paper. Said cylinder is supported for rotation by the shaft 33, the cylinderhaving free rotation onv the shaft and Said shaft being journalled at its ends in bearing portions 34 and 35, suitably secured to the end members 25 and 26, respectively, Said bearingv portions are L-shaped when viewed in Figures 3 and 4, the lower end of each having an opening for receiving the reduced trunnions of shaft 33. Trunnion 36 is located in an opening in the portion 34 and trunnion 3l is similarly 1o- Said rings andvv cated in an aligned' opening in portion 35. Each bearing portion also has a vertical extension which is bifurcated to form a guide channel 36.

In accordance with the invention the type cylinder' is alternately on impression and then off impression. This is accomplished by the end rollers di]v and 4l which function as off-impression members. The rollers have a rubber tired periphery 42 and each roller is keyed at 43 to its respective trunnion so that` they turn in unison with the shaft 33?. of its extent the rubber tired periphery of each roller has a radius in excess of that of the type cylinder and it will be clearly evident that the type cylinder is thus held in spaced relation with respect to the wrapping paper roll Il when the' said large periphery of the rollers is in contact with said paper. This position of the parts is shown in Figure 2 and the type cylinder is accordingly oi`impression. However, for effecting a printing operation it is necessary that the type cylinder have contact with the paper roll and for this function the rollers have a fiat portion 44. When said flat portion is adjacent the roll I'I the type cylinder will extend below and contact the paper to apply an impression to the paper upon movement' of the same, which will produce rotation ofthe type cylinder as a result.

Alternate rotation of the rubber tired rollers 46 and 4| and the type cylinder 3'0 is eifected by means of a pin projecting from the type cylinder and a second pin projecting from one of the rollers. The roller 4D is provided with an annular groove 45 on its inside surface. Extending into this groove from the base thereof is a pin 46 which is accordingly carried by the roller 40 having a fixed and a predetermined relation with respect to the flat portion 44 of the rubber tired periphery thereof. The type cylinder is provided with a pin 4l which projects from the left hand end thereof' into the groove 45 of the roller 4B which is associated with this end of the cyli-nder. It will be observed from the foregoing that pin 41 will ride within the groove 45 during rotation of the type cylinder and that said pin will eventually contact pin 46. tioned on their respective parts so that contact For a major portioni The pins are posible.

takes place to initiate a printing operation and to terminate a printing operation. Assuming the type cylinder to be off impression, as in Figure 2, the rubber tired periphery of the rollers 40 a-nd 4| are thus in contact with the paper roll I I. The type cylinder is stationary and pin 41 is likewise stationary, having location relatively adjacent the lowest point in its arcuate movement and on the left side of a vertical center line passing through shaft 33. Pin 46, on the other hand, is moving with rotation of the rollers and eventually said pin 46 will contact the pin 4l. See Figure 3. When this takes plact the fiat portion 44 of said rollers is located adjacent the paper roll Il `and since the type cylinder depends below this nat portion the said type cylinder will accordingly be in contact with the paper.

As movement of the paper continues the type cylinder will now rotate to accomplish the printing operation, an impression .from the said type being imparted to the surface of the paper roll. This rotation of the type cylinder` will result in movement of pin 41 in a, counter-clockwise direction and said pin will accordingly ride in the groove 45 until contact takes place with pin 46, as shown in Figure fl. Said pin 43 has been stationary along with rollers 4i! and il during this printing operation. However, movement of pin 47 is imparted to pin 46 and thus to the rollers, with the result that the portion of large diameter of said rollers is caused to contact the paper roll. From there on, as a result of the friction between the paper and rollers, rotation will be imparted to lsaid rollers, which operation locates the type cylinder' in raised position oil impression. The type cylinder and the ofi-impression members have alternate rotation, as will be clearly understood from the foregoing. Rotation of each continues for one complete revolution which brings the pins into contact.

The inking cylinder 5B, shown in Figure 2, is provided with a transverse shaft 5i, the respective ends of which are located within the guide channel 38 of the portions 3i and 35. The inking cylinder is thus confined to vertical movement, which is in a direction toward and from the type cylinder 3i). It will be observed that although the inking cylinder iinicves in a vertical direction only, free rotation of the saine is possi- The said i-nking cylinder rotates with the type cylinder to apply ink to the 'type thereon and in order to yieldingly maintain the inking cylinder in contact with said type, the invention provides bearings 52 which are backed by coil springs 53, each coil spring being held in position within its respective guide channel by a wire pin 5K5. The bearings also ride within the channels 38 having contact with the respective ends of the shaft 5|.

The printing couple, including the type cylinder and inking cylinder and also the olf-impression members, are supported as a unit on the base member 24, the said base member and the side members 25 and 26 providing a frame for the structure. Said frame is mounted by bracket 20 which positions the printing couple and said olfimpression members over the paper roll directly to the rear of the uprights l2. Free movement of said frame is possible in a substantially vertical direction and this movement of the frame is utilized to maintain contact between the paper roll and the type cylinder during a printing operation .and to likewise maintain contact between said paper roll and the off-impression members. Only the weight of the frame and the structure carried thereby is employed to apply the necessary pressure for printing. It is practically impossible for slippage to take place between the paper roll and the type cylinder owing to the friction character of the type. Since it is equally important to prevent slippage between the paper roll and the off-impression members the rollers 40 and 4| are provided with a rubber ring 42 on their periphery. It is relatively easy to repair or replace any of the parts of the printing device since the frame 23 can be removed from bracket by merely withdrawing the same in an upward direction. Access to the rollers and cylinders can then be had by removing cover 21.

The printing attachment remains inoperative until paper is withdrawn from the roll. The rotation thus given to the roll will be imparted alternately to the printing cylinder and oiT-impression members. When the cylinder is rotating an impression will be made on the surface of the paper for each revolution thereof and said impressions will be spaced since between each impression the rollers 40 and 4| will have contact with the paperin a. manner as described and for the purposes heretofore brought out.

During a printing operation the rollers and shaft Which form a wheel and axle assembly are yieldingly held by the detent, the same comprising a spring pressed member 55 carried by the side frame 35 and adapted to seat within a depression 56 in the adjacent roller such as 4|. By means of this construction the rollers are releasably held to maintain the flat portion thereof adjacent the paper until the rollers are moved by the pin 41 engaging the pin 46 of the rollers.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details oi construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing device of the character described, a type cylinder, a shaft supporting said cylinder for free rotation independently of the shaft, an inking cylinder yieldingly maintained in contact With the type cylinder, nii-impression members including rollers located on the respective sides of the type cylinder, said rollers forming with said shaft a wheel and axle assembly and having a radius for the major portion of their periphery greater than that of the type cylinder, the remaining portion of the periphery of said rollers being flat and of less radius than the type cylinder, whereby said type cylinder is held out of contact with the paper to be printed when the portion of larger radius of said rollers is in contact with the paper, and is on impression when said flat portion is adjacent the paper to be printed, interengaging means provided by said type cylinder and rollers respectively for causing alternate rotation of said type cylinder and rollers as a result of movement of said paper and detent means for releasably holding the rollers in position when the flat portions thereof are adjacent the paper.

2. In a printing device of the character described, a type cylinder, a shaft supporting said cylinder for free rotation independently of the shaft, an inking cylinder yieldingly maintained in contact with the type cylinder, rollers located on the respective sides of the type cylinder and having a radius for the major portion of their periphery in excess of that of the type cylinder, said rollers being fixed to the shaft to rotate as a unit and the remaining periphery thereof being fiat and of less radius than the type cylinder, -whereby the type cylinder extends beyond the at portion of the rollers to contact a paper to be printed to impart an impression thereto, said type cylinder being held out of contact with the paper when the portion of larger radius of said rollers is in contact therewith, and interengaging means provided by said type cylinder and rollers respectively including pins projecting into a common annular path to alternately engage and disengage.

3. In a printing attachment of the character described for printing on thesurface of a paper roll. a type cylinder, rollers located on the respective sides of said type cylinder and having a diameter for the m-ajor portion of their periphery in excess of the type cylinder, a shaft to which said rollers are secured so that they rotate in unison, said type cylinder being mounted for free rotation on the shaft whereby the cylinder rotates on the axis oi the rollers, each roller having friction gripping means on the periphery thereof and which is flattened for a portion of its extent to permit the type cylinder to extend beyond, a pin projecting from one end of the type cylinder toward its adjacent roller, an annular groove formed in said roller for receiving said pin, and a second pin adapted to have interengaging relation with the rst mentioned pin and xed to said roller so as to project from the base of said groove into said groove.

4. In a printing attachment of the character described, for printing on the surface of a paper roli, printing members including a type cylinder having contact with said paper roll and an inking cylinder in contact with said type cylinder, a

frame including a substantially at base member having spaced side members extending therefrom at an angle substantially normal to the base member, said side members having means for .iournalling the said type cylinder and inking cylinder, a cover for the cylinders removably associated with said side members and supported thereby, and an approximately vertically positioned bracket having side flanges providing spaced guiding recesses receiving the base member of said frame to thereby retain the frame and permit free movement in a substantially vertical direction toward and from the paper roll.

LAURENCE T. ASH. 

